Kate Collett: Three Words

Replenish/Refuel
Connect

I chose my words based on what parks mean to myself and to others. I always think of parks as a place to replenish/refuel yourself. This could be spiritual (aka emotional and mental), through relaxation, meditation, or reconnecting with nature, etc. It could also be health-related, as in refueling with something to eat, getting fresh air, or taking a nap. I think of parks as a place where people can step outside of the stress of daily life and replenish or refuel themselves in some way. Also, people use parks to connect with one another, through talking, playing, having a picnic, walking the dog, etc. By creating a space where people can enjoy an activity or relax for a length of time, parks enable people to connect with others rather than just rushing by on their way to a destination.

I also considered that my group’s space on Centennial Drive will be near the farmer’s market. This made me think of community gardening in parks/urban spaces, which allows people to connect with others and replenish themselves through working outdoors and consuming healthy organic food. As shipping food long distances creates a lot of emissions, growing or buying locally might also be a thought to consider for PARK(ing) Day.

Three Words for PARK(ing) Day - M.Jackman

http://www.innovationcanada.ca/en/articles/recreating-nature

The words that come to my mind when I think about PARK(ing) Day are Recreate, Play, and Recess.

I like "recreate" because it is the root word of recreation, but taken in its root form it is easy to see the origin of “to re-create” as in to recreate ones psyche by taking a break from work or study to exercise or simply relax, or in our case to take a space normally used solely for the storage of personal vehicles and recreate a park where one can exercise or relax.

The word “play” fits into this analogy because that is what the act of relaxation through exercise was called when we were children and is, in my mind, the main reason for having parks and green spaces in urban areas.

http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/lists/stormtroopers-theyre-just-us

"Recess" is of course the designated time for children to take a break from their studies and recreate through play, something I think could still be useful to students at the college level.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/nyregion/02ritual.html?_r=1

J Vera - Parking Day: 2 Words

Relax
Reflect

   My words may seem simple at first glance, however; I feel that park(ing) day is all about persuading and promoting to the public the importance of taking a quick minute out of your day to relax and view a piece of your everyday life in a different way. A parking space is a commodity that we see everyday all around us, and it is usually something we ignore. I think it is a brilliant concept to transform such a space and give it back to the community. I feel that whatever ideas we come up with, our main goal for park(ing) day is to create a fun and stress free environment for the busy students of our school. At the same time, we are making a statement by showing them how most of our cities are more devoted to parking spaces and storage versus how little space we have devoted to parks and recreational areas and it is important for our society to preserve them.

Our spot on Holloway.

Looks very different when there are no people/cars around.

A play area for children at a local mall. I really liked the concept and layout.